Court sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia in landmark trial

Court sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia in landmark trial A Damascus court sentenced Syria's former president Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher and former security official Atef Najib to death on Tuesday on charges of murder, torture and incitement to murder. The court convicted Bashar of premeditated murder of multiple people, including children, as well as torture, arbitrary detention and crimes against humanity. Najib was tried in person, while Bashar and Maher were tried…